Dzīves un darba gājums

2.6. Summary

strong points:

• 
  in accordance with the recommendations of Bologna process and legislation and resolutions of LR Ministry of Education and Science the transition to two study cycles - basic studies and post diploma studies – has been accomplished;
  
• 
  Latvian credit point system has been introduced in all study programmes;
  
• 
  Study quality assurance centre which coordinates assurance of interior quality of studies has been established;
  
• 
  the study possibilities in different thematic spheres are becoming wider.
  

weak points:

• 
  the regional demand for professional and agriculturally oriented study programmes which DU could realize is not being satisfied to a full extent;
  
• 
  providing potential foreign students with courses in English creates certain problems;
  
• 
  it would be desirable to improve credit point storing system which would promote greater students’ mobility.
  

solutions:

• 
  to continue designing new study programmes required by this region in cooperation with other Latvia’s higher educational establishments (DU has already two programmes – “Physiotherapy” in cooperation with Riga Stradins University, “Science of Law” in cooperation with Policy Academy of Latvia);
  
• 
  to encourage lecturers to use more extensively teaching and scientific literature in foreign language for students’ individual work;
  
• 
  to participate in student and lecturer exchange projects more actively;
  
• 
  to pay greater attention to constituting contacts with representatives of professional organizations, employers and graduates within the framework of each study programme.
  

3. organization and management of research activities

3.1. Structural and functional relations of research organization and management

The unity between research and studies form the DU academic basis. In its research DU follows the LR law “On Scientific Activity” and strategy defined by the state and Latvian Academy of sciences. Research trends towards the cooperation with Europe and Latvia’s higher educational establishments and regional institutions are:

• 
  development of information technologies and modern means of communication;
  
• 
  development of new materials and technologies;
  
• 
  investigation and protection of biodiversity;
  
• 
  Latvian studies, literary theory and linguistics;
  
• 
  regionalism: historical, economic, social and security aspects;
  
• 
  cultural and historical processes;
  
• 
  sustainable education;
  
• 
  economic and social problems.
  

DU research strategy as well as other issues pertaining to DU research activities are worked out, confirmed and settled by the Council of Science whose members are representatives of all faculties, institutes and Young Scientists’ association. The Department of Science has organized the Doctoral Studies Centre and Research Coordination and Information department. In 2003, to carry out research in particular branches more successfully and to concentrate the scientific potential DU has founded the following scientific institutes:

• 
  Institute of Comparative Linguistics (Faculty of Humanities);
  
• 
  Institute of Sustainable Education (Faculty of Education and Management);
  
• 
  Institute of Social Research (Faculty of Social Science).
  

According to the law on Higher Education Establishments the scientific potential of these institutes corresponds to the level of the Promotion Council. The institutes function in conformity with the statutes adopted by the Senate.

To strengthen the contacts between science and business DU researchers have organized several enterprises at the university:

• 
  LLC Baltic Institute of Coleopterology;
  
• 
  LLC Institute of Limnology;
  
• 
  LLC DIFRAKS;
  
• 
  LLC UNIT (Universal Service of Information Technologies).
  

These enterprises function as institutes and research laboratories and simultaneously help to realize practical projects or introduce scientific discoveries into production. They also ensure students’ involvement into research and project work. The enterprises function corresponding to their statutes and cooperation agreements with DU.

The scientific research in many chairs of the university is promoted by the established research laboratories:

• 
  Laboratory of sociological investigations;
  

• 
  Laboratory of condensed environment physics;
  

• 
  Laboratory of high-vacuum technologies;
  

• 
  Laboratory of environmental chemistry;
  
• 
  Laboratory of experimental and practical pedagogy and psychology;
  
• 
  Centre of information technologies.
  

Starting with 2003 the Council of Science has adopted a decision to use 5% of DU self-earned revenues for the development of science. It has also asked other structural units to allot at least 10% from the estimate of self-earned revenues to the development of science. Starting with 2003 DU has begun forming its internal grant system.

Many students and staff members participate in DU public organizations (PO), which, through their projects, help to attract resources for research and various activities. DU has the following public organizations:

• 
  PO DU association of young scientists;
  
• 
  PO DU centre of nature studies and environmental education;
  
• 
  PO DU centre of health promotion;
  
• 
  PO Support centre of Southern Latgale NGO organizations;
  
• 
  PO Latgale research institute;
  
• 
  PO Union of teachers of arts.
  

All DU public organizations are users of the Support centre of Southern Latgale NGO organization, and all the resources of the centre are accessible for them: juridical data basis NAIS, the latest information about possible projects, consultations on drawing up projects.